Muhammad Ali's family denies report he is near death

February 03, 2013|Sports Xchange

Muhammad Ali's family and a family spokesman on Sunday denied a British news report that Ali was near death, the Louisville Courier-Journal reported

The family posted on Twitter a photo of Ali in a Ravens jersey getting ready to watch the Superbowl. He and his wife, Lonnie, were at home in Phoenix on Sunday watching the game, family spokesman Bob Gunnell told the Courier-Journal.

"He looks great," Gunnell said. "He's having a Super Bowl party."

According to Gunnell, the report of Ali's imminent death, which was published over the weekend by both The Sun and The Daily Mail newspapers, was false. It was based on an interview with Ali's brother, Rahman Ali. He was quoted as saying: "It could be months, it could be days. I don't know if he'll last the summer. He's in God's hands."

Ali, 71, has suffered from Parkinson's disease for many years but has continued to make public appearances.